Hundreds of visitors flocked to tourist town Oban at the weekend as its winter festival was launched in spectacular style.
Iconic McCaig’s Tower – which is perched on the hill above the west coast port – will be bathed in multicoloured light for the duration of the 10-day event.
The start of the festive season was heralded by Santa and his reindeer parading through the town before the Christmas lights were switched on at Station Square.
And over the next week or so, the festival will feature food and craft markets, ceilidhs, whisky tasting, cookery demonstrations and live entertainment.
Oban Winter Festival chairwoman, Pamela Lockhart, said: “It has been really good. We had 1,200 people through the door of the food market in Oban Distillery, some of the stalls were totally sold out. The Victorian market at the Caledonian Hotel was also really busy.
“The whisky tasting at the Oban Whisky and Fine Wines Shop sold out. We had an extra showing at the Frozen singalong at the cinema because it was so popular.
“A lot of people were here for the festival, the cafes were all full. There is a great buzz about the place.”
The entertainment will continue this week and at the weekend there will be a special celebration of the haggis and all things Scottish to mark St Andrew’s Day.
Experts will be going head-to-head at Haggisfest, which will include seven butchers and haggis-makers from Argyll all cooking up a storm as they compete for the coveted Golden Haggis Award.
Haggisfest will open to the public in Oban Distillery on Saturday at midday and will be judged by Oban chef and restaurant owner Alex Needham of the Waterfront Fishouse and chef and manager of the Manor House Hotel, Gregor MacKinnon.
Atlantis Leisure Centre football pitch will be the venue for a haggis hurling event on the same day, followed by the Family Science and Circus Show.
The Festival Finale on Sunday will feature displays by Circus Alba, the lantern parade led by Oban High School Pipe Band with performances by the newly-formed Youth Samba Band, performances by local choirs, a ceilidh band and fireworks display.